Hair dryers

ABSTRACT

A unit forming a hot air source for a hair dryer comprising at least one fan and at least one heater over or through which air is moved by the fan to heat the air, an outlet duct leading to a hood associated with the unit, a transfer duct leading to an outside wall of the unit, and an angularly movable valve member capable of movement under manual control between a first position in which it directs the heated air from the heater to the outlet duct and a second position in which it directs the heated air from the heater to the transfer duct. The valve member preferably has a third position in which there is an air flow path from the transfer duct to the outlet duct. By turning the valve member appropriately the hood can be supplied with hot air from the heater built into the unit or from an outside source (such as a second similar unit), or the hot air from the heater of the unit can be fed to a second unit. In a preferred embodiment we provide two heaters and also two transfer ducts, these ducts extending in opposite directions so as to allow the unit to be connected to similar units on either side or on both sides. The valve member needs several different positions to give all the required combinations of air flow paths, and in practice we mount the valve member in a drum-shaped casing having ports opening into its curved surfaces. Further, where the or each heater is electric, we can link manual control means for the valve member to electric switching means to switch the or each heater automatically on or off to suit the selected valve position. An electric motor driving the or each fan may be similarly automatically controlled, and so may a valve in the or each transfer duct.

United States Patent Arthur W. Mason 45a Hampton Lane. Solihull,

[72} inventor Warwickshire, England [2!] Appl. No 848,427 [22] Filed Aug. 8, I969 [45] Patented July 27,1971

[54] HAIR DRYERS 19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] [LS-Cl 219/367, 219/370 [5]] Int. Cl A45d 20/08 [50] Field ofSearch 34/68,9l,

Primary ExaminerFrederick L. Matteson Assistant Examiner-Harry B. Ramey Attorney Scrivener, Parker, Scrivener and Clarke ABSTRACT: A unit forming a hot air source for a hair dryer comprising at least one fan and at least one heater over or 1 an air flow path from the transfer duct to the outlet duct. By

turningthe valve member appropriately the hood can be supplied with hot air from the heater built into the unit or from an outside source (such as a second similar unit), or the hot air from the heater of the unit can be fed to a second unit. In a preferred embodiment we provide two heaters and also two transfer ducts, these ducts extending in opposite directions so as to allow the unit to be connected to similar units on either side or on both sides. The valve member needs several different positions to give all the required combinations of air flow paths, and in practice we mount the valve member in a drum-shaped casing having ports opening into its curved surfaces. Further, where the or each heater is electric, we can link manual control means for the valve member to electric switching means to switch the or each heater automatically on I PATENTED JUL27 l9?! 3.5941916 SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTED JUL27 lsn SHEET 3 0F 4 HAIR DRYERS This invention relates to hair dryers. There has been proposed an arrangement in which a hair dryer unit, comprising a cabinet containing an electric motor driving a fan to produce a current of air over an electric heating element and through ducting conveying this air to a hair-dryer hood, includes in the cabinet additional ducting provided with means for delivering a current of heated air through this additional ducting to an outlet point outside the cabinet and separate from the hood. This enables the dryer to be used to supply hot air to a further hair dryer placed alongside the first. In the preferred construction described the dryer contains a single electric motor driving two fans, and these each pass air over respective heating elements. Flap valves allow the air from the extra fan to be recirculated where it is not required for an adjacent dryer, and also allow the hood of the dryer in question to receive air from an identical dryer instead of from its own fan and heating element.

The aim of my invention is to provide certain further improvements on a dryer of this kind.

According to the invention there is now proposed a unit forming a hot air source for a hair dryer comprising at least one fan and at least one heater over or through which air is moved by the fan to heat the said air, an outlet duct leading to a hood associated with the unit, a transfer duct leading to an outside wall of the unit, and an angularly movable valve member capable of movement under manual control between a first position in which it directs the heated air from the heater to the outlet duct, a second position in which it directs the heated air from the heater to the transfer duct, and a third position in which there is an air flow path from the transfer duct to the outlet duct.

By turning the valve member appropriately the hood can be supplied with hot air from the heater built into the unit or from an outside source (such as a second similar unit), or the hot air from the heater of the unit can be fed to a second unit.

In practice we prefer to provide two heaters and also two transfer ducts, these ducts extending in opposite directions so as to allow the unit to be connected to similar units on either side or on both sides. The valve member needs several different positions to give all the required combinations of air flow paths, and in practice we mount the valve member in a drum-shaped casing having ports opening into its curved surfaces.

According to a further important feature of the invention, where the or each heater is electric, we can link manual control means for the valve member to electric switching means to switch the or each heater automatically on or off to suit the selected valve position. An electric motor driving the or each fan may be similarly automatically controlled, and so may a valve in the or each transfer duct.

A preferred form of unit in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-quarter rear perspective view of the complete unit with its rear panel removed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the valve structure, showing also the fans and heating elements.

FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically the various manners in which the unit can be used,

FIGS. 40 to 4e show diagrammatically the various possible positions for the valve member, and

FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically the dial of the combined switch and valve-control knob.

Referring first to FIGS. I to 3 the dryer comprises a rectangular sheet metal cabinet 1, inside the front wall of which there is a rectangular vertical tube or duct 2 forming a mounting for a hollow pillar 3 which carries a hair-drying hood 4 at its upper end. This hood projects forward to lie over the head of the occupant of a chair (not shown) placed in front of the cabinet. The pillar 3 has a telescopic engagement with its mounting 2 and the height of the hood can be adjusted by moving the pillar vertically by means of a rack-and-pinion arrangement under the control of a pair of knobs 5. A cord or wire passing over a drum or pulley could be used instead of a rack-and-pinion.

Warm air is provided by a motor 6 driving a pair of tangential fans 7 which blow the air over respective heating elements 8. The air passes from each of these into a drum-shaped valve casing 9 containing a rotary valve member 10. The valve member comprises three walls 11, one extending diametrically and the other two parallel to this center one and on opposite sides of it to define four chordwise passages. In addition to two inlet ports from the two fan/heater sources, the casing 9 contains an outlet port 12 leading via the duct 2 and the pillar 3 to the hair dryer hood, and two opposed ports leading to leftand right-hand transfer ducts l3. Each port is of a width such as to extend over approximately one tenth of the periphery of the valve casing and adjacent ports are separated by a portion of casing wall of the same peripheral length.

The transfer ducts I3 extend horizontally to project from opposite sidewalls of the cabinet and are adapted to be connected (for example through short lengths of large-diameter flexible hose) to corresponding transfer ducts of further identical hair dryer assemblies placed alongside. It will be understood that in a typical installation in a hairdressing salon there may be a line of chairs with a line of cabinets behind them, all the cabinets being interconnected in this way.

The rotary valve member 10 has ten possible different angular positions, although by virtue of its symmetry five of these positions produce the same air flow paths as the other five. The valve member is rotated by a knob 14 which is mounted for convenient access in the top ofthe cabinet and acts on the valve member through a shaft 15 and a worm gear drive 16. This knob not only controls the valve member 10 but also controls the fan motor 6 and the leftand right-hand heating elements 8 through electric switches I7a, a separate such switch being connected in each of the circuits of the fan motor 6 and the left-hand and right-hand heating elements 8, and being operated by a corresponding separate cam 17b which is mounted on the spindle of the valve member 10 to rotate therewith, the cams 17b being shaped so that for each angular position of the valve member they operate only the appropriate switches 17a to switch on the fan motor and heating elements as specified below. As to be explained later the knob 14 also controls flap valves 18 in the transfer ducts 14. A dial 14a below the knob is driven from the knob through a reduction gear and its angular position always corresponds to the angular position of the valve member 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically five different manners in which the unit can be used, and FIG. 4 shows five possible angular positions for the valve member 10, but we must make it clear that these five valve positions do not correspond to the five manners of use. Also it must be made clear that the valve, being symmetrical, has a total of ten different angular positions, five of which produce exactly the same air flow paths as the other five but, as will be explained, the electrical conditions are not necessarily the same in each of the pairs ofopposite positions.

FIG. 3 indicates at I the unit in use on its own. For this the valve member 10 is turned to one of the two positions shown in FIGS. 40 or 4b depending on whether the right-hand or the left-hand heater is to be used. The dial of the knob 14 is then in one of the two positions marked I in FIG. 5 and the cams I76 switch on the fan motor and only the right-hand or only the left-hand heater, as the case may be.

Position II in FIG. 3 shows the unit supplying hot air to its own hood and simultaneously to a second unit on the right. For this the knob I4 is turned until its dial is in the position marked II in FIG. 5, in which the valve member 10 is as shown in FIG. 4b but at I80 from the position mentioned in the previous paragraph and now the cams 17b operate the switches 17a to switch on the fan motor and both heaters. Similarly the condition shown at III in FIG. 3, where the unit described is supplying its own hood and a second unit on the left, is obtained by turning the dial 14a to the position III in FIG. 5, which puts the valve member in the position shown in FIG. 4a but again switches both heaters on as well as the fan.

One face of the valve member 10 carries a groove 19 forming a face cam which, through a link 20, controls the flap valve 18 in the right-hand transfer duct 13. A similar cam in the other face ofthe valve member controls a corresponding flap valve in the left-hand transfer duct. These cams are shaped so that, when'the valve is in the position shown in FIG. 4b or 4a respectively, but with the dial 14a in one of the two positions I, the duct in question is closed off, but in other positions of the dial, including the positions ll and III, the duct is open. This prevents the fan causing an unwanted flow of cold air from the left-hand or right-hand transfer duct when the valve member is in the position of HG. 4a or 4b but the unit is being used on its own. Instead the air is diverted downwards through an opening which the valve uncovers in the underside ofthe duct. In an alternative arrangement each of the flap valves 18 may be controlled by a solenoid which in turn is controlled by a switch 17a and a cam 17!) on the spindle of the valve member 10, such as already described above.

For the condition shown at W in FIG. 3 the dial 14a is turned to one of the two positions IV in FIG. 5. The valve member 10 is then in the position shown in FIG. 4e and the unit is able to receive hot air from an adjacent unit on the right. Similarly, in either of the positions V, giving the valve member the positionshown in FIG. 40, the unit is able to receive hot air from an adjacent unit on the left.

In the positions W and V both heaters and the fan motor are off and the unit is acting as a slave. However, in a modification, if thought desirable, it would be possible to arrange that in one of the two positions [V the fan motor and right-hand heater are on and in one of the two positions V the fan motor and left-hand heater are on, so that, while receiving hot air from an adjacent unit on one side, the unit in question could simultaneously supply hot air to an adjacent unit on the other side.

Finally the knob 14 has two off positions in which all electric supplies are off and the valve member is in the positions shown in FIG. 40'. V

The two heaters have their own individual on/off and progressive control knobs 21, which allow the heat output of each to be adjusted, but it will be understood that these controls are in series with the switches 17a actuated by the cams 17!) so that current cannot reach the heaters unless the fan motor is on and the valve member 10 is in an appropriate posinon.

There are also suitable indicator lights 22 indicating which heaters are on and further lights indicating when the respective heater is supplying one of the transfer ducts. The unit may also include the usual overload cutouts and overheating cutouts to prevent operation ofthe heaters in the event of failure ofthe fan motor.

It will be appreciated that with the use ofa single 10-position valve having, in conjunction with the control of the heaters and fans, nine different settings, complete flexibility of operation is provided, allowing the use of the unit alone or in combination with units placed on one or both sides. This gives a safety factor in that breakdown of the motor or heaters of any one unit need not interfere with its use as it can simply be supplied with air from an adjacent unit. The arrangement is also more economical than one having independent units, in that only one motor, driving the fans of one unit, can be supplying all the air requirements for two hoods simultaneously. There is also an added safety factor in that even where the unit is operating independently, failure of the one heating element with ducts but not heating or blowing equipment. In one preferred construction these slave units have two transfer ducts, .like the ducts 13, meeting at a changeover flap valve leading to a hood duct like the duct 2, so that the slave can be fed from a master unit on either side at will. The use of such slave units represents a further economy in that, where low cost is the prime initial consideration, an installation can be set up with only half the units being of the kind illustrated, the other half being of this simplified slave form.

lclaim:

l. A unit forming a hot air source for a hair dryer comprising at least one fan and at least one heater past which air is moved by the fan'to heat the air, an outlet duct leading to a hood associated with the unit a transfer duct leading to an outside wall of the unit, and an angularly movable valve member capable of movement under manual control between a first position in which it directs the heated air from the heater to I the outlet duct and a second position in which it directs the 8 can be overcome at least temporarily by switching over to a use the other.

The units described may be used not only in conjunction with identical units equipped with their own fans and heaters but may also be used-to feed simplified slave units provided heated air from the heater to the transfer duct.

2. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in which the unit includes a second fan and heater also feeding air to the said valve member and in which the valve member has a position in which there is an air flow path from the one heater to the transfer duct and an air flow path from the other heater to the outlet duct.

3. A hair dryer according to claim 1 in which there is a second transfer duct and in which, in the said third position of the valve member the valve member also defines a flow path for the heated air from the heater to this second transfer duct.

4. A hair dryer according to claim 3 in which the two transfer ducts lead respectively to the two opposite sidewalls of the unit.

5. A hair dryer unit according to claim 4 in which the unit includes a second fan and heater also feeding air to the said valve member and in which the valve member has a position in which there is an air flow path from the one heater to one of the transfer ducts and an air flow path from the other heater to the outlet duct.

6. A hair dryer unit according to claim 5 in which the valve member has another position in which there is an air flow path from the said one heater of claim 5 to the outlet duct and an air flow path from the said other heater to that one of the transfer ducts to which the heater was not connected in the position defined in claim 5.

7. A hair dryer according to claim 6 in which the valve member has a still further position in which the outlet duct and the heater or both heaters are cut off and there is an air flow path from one transfer duct through the valve member to the other transfer duct.

8. A hair dryer unit according to claim 7 in which the valve member is rotatable in a drum-shaped casing and has at least one transverse wall to define separate chordwise paths for air flow between five ports from the outlet duct and the two transfer ducts and from the two heaters, all opening into spaced regions of the curved surface of the casing.

9. A hair dryer unit according to claim 8 in which the five ports are uniformly spaced apart around the casing.

10. A hair dryer unit according to claim 9 in which the valve member has three transverse walls to define four separate chordwise paths for air flow, which paths interconnect the various ports in different manners according to the angular positions of the valve member.

11. A hair dryer unit according to claim 10 in which the valve member is rotatable through 360 and is symmetrical about a diametral plane so that for each angular position of the valve member there is a complementary position 180 away in which the air flow paths are the same.

12. A hair dryer unit according to claim 11 in which each heater is electric and in which manual control means for rotating the valve member are linked to electric switching means controlling the supply ofcurrent to each heater such that, in at least one angular position of the valve member a given heater is on whereas in the complementary position of the valve member the heater is off.

13. A hair dryer unit according to claim 7 in which each heater is electric and the manual control means for rotating the valve member are linked to electric switching means controlling the heaters, so that each heater is switched on or off automatically according to the requirements of the selected angular position of the valve member.

14. A hair dryer unit according to claim 13 in which the manual control means for rotating the valve member are also linked to electric switching means controlling the supply of current to an electric motor driving each fan, so that each fan is switched on or off automatically according to the require' ments ofthe selected angular position ofthe valve member.

15. A hair dryer unit according to claim 14 in which a valve is provided in each transfer duct and in which the manual control means are also linked to means for controlling operation of the valve in the transfer ducts so that this valve is opened or closed automatically according to the selected angular position of the main valve member.

16. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in which the valve member is rotatable in a drum-shaped casing, and ports leading to or from the various ducts and the heater open into the curved surface of this casing.

17. A hair dryer unit according to claim 16 in which the valve member has at least one transverse wall to define separate chordwise paths for air flow.

18. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in which the valve member is angularly movable about a horizontal axis and is manually controlled by a knob mounted in an upper surface of the unit and rotatable about a vertical axis.

19. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in association with a further hair dryer unit incorporating at least a transfer duct and an outlet duct leading to a hood, the transfer duct, of the first-mentioned unit being connected to the transfer duct of the second-mentioned unit. 

1. A unit forming a hot air source for a hair dryer comprising at least one fan and at least one heater past which air is moved by the fan to heat the air, an outlet duct leading to a hood associated with the unit a transfer duct leading to an outside wall of the unit, and an angularly movable valve member capable of movement under manual control between a first position in which it directs the heated air from the heater to the outlet duct and a second position in which it directs the heated air from the heateR to the transfer duct.
 2. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in which the unit includes a second fan and heater also feeding air to the said valve member and in which the valve member has a position in which there is an air flow path from the one heater to the transfer duct and an air flow path from the other heater to the outlet duct.
 3. A hair dryer according to claim 1 in which there is a second transfer duct and in which, in the said third position of the valve member the valve member also defines a flow path for the heated air from the heater to this second transfer duct.
 4. A hair dryer according to claim 3 in which the two transfer ducts lead respectively to the two opposite sidewalls of the unit.
 5. A hair dryer unit according to claim 4 in which the unit includes a second fan and heater also feeding air to the said valve member and in which the valve member has a position in which there is an air flow path from the one heater to one of the transfer ducts and an air flow path from the other heater to the outlet duct.
 6. A hair dryer unit according to claim 5 in which the valve member has another position in which there is an air flow path from the said one heater of claim 5 to the outlet duct and an air flow path from the said other heater to that one of the transfer ducts to which the heater was not connected in the position defined in claim
 5. 7. A hair dryer according to claim 6 in which the valve member has a still further position in which the outlet duct and the heater or both heaters are cut off and there is an air flow path from one transfer duct through the valve member to the other transfer duct.
 8. A hair dryer unit according to claim 7 in which the valve member is rotatable in a drum-shaped casing and has at least one transverse wall to define separate chordwise paths for air flow between five ports from the outlet duct and the two transfer ducts and from the two heaters, all opening into spaced regions of the curved surface of the casing.
 9. A hair dryer unit according to claim 8 in which the five ports are uniformly spaced apart around the casing.
 10. A hair dryer unit according to claim 9 in which the valve member has three transverse walls to define four separate chordwise paths for air flow, which paths interconnect the various ports in different manners according to the angular positions of the valve member.
 11. A hair dryer unit according to claim 10 in which the valve member is rotatable through 360* and is symmetrical about a diametral plane so that for each angular position of the valve member there is a complementary position 180* away in which the air flow paths are the same.
 12. A hair dryer unit according to claim 11 in which each heater is electric and in which manual control means for rotating the valve member are linked to electric switching means controlling the supply of current to each heater such that, in at least one angular position of the valve member a given heater is on whereas in the complementary position of the valve member the heater is off.
 13. A hair dryer unit according to claim 7 in which each heater is electric and the manual control means for rotating the valve member are linked to electric switching means controlling the heaters, so that each heater is switched on or off automatically according to the requirements of the selected angular position of the valve member.
 14. A hair dryer unit according to claim 13 in which the manual control means for rotating the valve member are also linked to electric switching means controlling the supply of current to an electric motor driving each fan, so that each fan is switched on or off automatically according to the requirements of the selected angular position of the valve member.
 15. A hair dryer unit according to claim 14 in which a valve is provided in each transfer duct and in which the manual control means are also linked to means for controlling operation of the valve in the transfer ducts so that this vAlve is opened or closed automatically according to the selected angular position of the main valve member.
 16. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in which the valve member is rotatable in a drum-shaped casing, and ports leading to or from the various ducts and the heater open into the curved surface of this casing.
 17. A hair dryer unit according to claim 16 in which the valve member has at least one transverse wall to define separate chordwise paths for air flow.
 18. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in which the valve member is angularly movable about a horizontal axis and is manually controlled by a knob mounted in an upper surface of the unit and rotatable about a vertical axis.
 19. A hair dryer unit according to claim 1 in association with a further hair dryer unit incorporating at least a transfer duct and an outlet duct leading to a hood, the transfer duct, of the first-mentioned unit being connected to the transfer duct of the second-mentioned unit. 